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How to Write a PISA Module

Implementing your own PISA module is rather simple. You only need
to add a few functions to your code which read and write the text
files. Read the specification (pdf) and look at
the SEMO and LOTZ source code. They are written in
C and can be used as examples of how to implement a PISA module.
Since the interface is based on text files you can of course use any
programming language that can read and write text files.

PISALib

If you plan to write your module in C there are some library
functions available which take care of all the text file
communication and additionaly provide means for handling
individuals.

Get the source code of LOTZ2 or FEMO, depending on whether you are
implementing a variator or a selector module. These two modules have
been implemented using the PISALib functions and can therefore serve
as examples.

The functions provided are divided into 3 parts:

The 'variator' (or 'selector') part contains the main function
and all functions that you can use for implementing the
module. You don't need to change anything in these files.

The 'variator_user' (or 'selector_user') part contains all
functions that you need to implement. You need to change
these files.

The 'variator_internal' (or 'selector_internal') part contains
functions that are called by the functions in the 'variator'
(or 'selector') part. You don't have to look at the internal
part.

Put your code at all the places in 'variator_user.h' and
'variator_user.c' (or 'selector_user.h' and 'selector_user.c')
where a comment starts with '/****'.

Use the included 'Makefile' to compile.

A more extensive guide on how to implement PISA modules using
PISALib will be provided here soon.

How to Submit Your Own Module

If you have implemented your own test problem or real-world
optimization problem or an optimization algorithm as a PISA module
you are invited to submit your module. We will then put it in the
list of modules and make it available for download.

We encourage you to publish the source code of your program as well
but if you don't wish to you can submit just binaries. When
submitting please send the module together with the follwing
information to
Dimo Brockhoff.

Necessary information:

Authors name and email address.

Documentation for your module.

Licensing information.

A short description of your program.

Optionally a reference to a publication where your module is
described in more detail or where some results achieved with
your module are reported.